Tractor.



P. E. HOLT.

' TRACTOR.

APPLIoATloN FILED PEB. 1, 1909.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

@Enit/11e was PLINY E; BOLT, or srookron, CALIFORNIA.'-

TRACTOR.

i,oos,iio,

Specification of Iletters Patent. Patented Splj. 12, 191.1.

Aplnication med February 1, 1909. serieu No'. 475,515.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known thatl L'PLINY E. HOLT, a citizenof the United States, and residing in the city of Stockton, county ofSanA Joaquin, and State of California, have in, vented' `certain new anduseful Improveg ments in Tractors; and I-do 'hereby declare badconditions where the traction belt is and rings, whose diameter`overlaps the `thefollowing to'be a full, clear, and exact descriptionofthe said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it most' nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same.` Y

This ,invention in tractors', and more particularly Ato the tractionmechanisms thereof;- and consists in the 'novel construction andarrangement of the parts hereinafter described. The objects sought to bevaccomplished are to obtain the maximum traction surface in Contact withthe grounclglto place the journals of the driving and supporting wheelsso far as practicable from the ground `to avoid the dust and grit of theroadway;

and to eliminate the multiplicity of small supporting rollersA usuallypresent in this class of traction mechanisms.

ln this classtof tractors wherein the traction belt is actuated by therear supporting and driving sprocket, it has been the practiceheretofore to draw y'the traction belt under a series of smallsupporting rollers journaled in a .supporting truck. The use` of thesesmall rollers Vis particularly objectionable when traveling over. sandy'wastes, or, through mud, or "under other working under the greatestpossible disadvantage.

traction belt are often submerged inwater, or their journals aresubjected to excessive grit because' of their proximity to the ground.To overcome' this latter difficulty the low roller truck is heresuperseded by a high truck withrrelatively large rollers,

diameter ofthe large rollers, so disposed that their peripheral contactwith the traction belt is ,practically equal in effect to a multiplicityof small rollers. I

Broadly, the invention consists of atractor frame; .an endless link beltprovided with transverse traction sections of suitable width; ateetera'ble Atruck pivoted on the tractor frame; a driving sprocket andanl idle sprocket .of sulhcient diameter mounted relates to improvementsAgain, these small rollers whichl .support the weightof the `tractor onthel in opposite ends'of the teeterable truck, and around which thetraction belt is adapted to travel; a pair of annular rings, set Withinthe loop of the traction belt, Whose diameter is disposed so as tooverlap the diameter of the end sprockets and whose periphery isinterposed between the traction belt and pivotal rollers mounted on thetractor frame, whereby the said 'rings rest upon that portion -of thetraction. belt under-I traction, and whereby the said rings support that`portion of the traction belt not under traction; a set of idle rollersmounted in-'the superstructure on the tractorl frame adapted-to guidethel said rings in their rotation; means forlreventing the teeterabletruck from teetering; and a suitable complete` locomotive machine; theterm traction mechanism will define that portion of Tthe tractorintimately vassociated with the traction belt; the term motive'mechanism will define the motive unit and the intermediate drivingmechanisms. The" traction mechanism comprises the traction belt,I thedriving sprocket, the teeterable truck, the pivotal rollers journaled inthe tractor frame, the idle sprocket in the forwardv end of the.teeterable truck, and the annular rings set within the loop of thetraction belt.'

In detailthe construction consists of the traction belt comprisingvthelinks :#1, joined by the pins .#2, and surmounted by the transversetraction' sections '#3, preferably composed of a plate of sheet steelhaving the grousers #il struck up from the body thereof. The teeterabletruck is composed of the side beams #5 pivoted on the driving shaft #6ournaled in the pillow blocks #7 fixed on the side beams #8 of thetractor fra-me. The driving sprocket #9 is Tri teeth) is similarlyjournaled in the boxes #12 slidably mounted on the `forward ends of theside beams of the teeterable truck, and is provided with the adjustingscrew `#13 for taking up the slack ofthe traction belt. The annularrings #14 are preferably composed of apiece ofchannel iron .with

, the tlanges rolled inwardv to form a grooved runway .for the rollers.#15.l The rollers #15 are journaled in brackets l#16 fixed to andextendingdownward from the side E beams -#8` of the tractor frame. Theannular rings are located on each side of the diameter overlapsteeterable truck, and so disposed `that their the diameter of thesprockets mounted inthe ends of the'teeter-` 'able truck.

The traction belt passes from the driving.

sprocket #9, up over the top of the annular rings, thenceA downwardlyaround and `uilder the idler #11, thence under the annular rings, backto the driving sprocket. The Weight ofthe slack portion yof the tractioni. belt is supported'by the vannular rings, and

the weight of the tractor rests upon' and 1s ysupported by'that portionof the traction belt under traction. The lateral edges of the tractionbelt` are "provided 'withv the angle sections #17 upon which the annularrings are adapted to travel.-` The angle sections preventl lateraldisplacement of the traction sections in traveling` on a side hill, or'1n passing over obstructions. Particular attention is drawn totheadvantage of placing these annular rings so that they bear upon theextreme' outer edges of the traction sections. Such a constructionresults-in a more direct placing of the Weight of thetractor on thetraction sections, relieves theconnecting gu'dgeon pins #2 inthe belt'of considerable Weight, and at thesame time prevents the' twisting oftheitractionbelt when the tractor is traveling on side hills, or ispassing over obstructions. -To prevent threshing or unsteadiness of theannular .rings when the l tractor is in motion they are .guided by theidlers l#18 mounted on the superstructure #19 built upon the tractorframe.

--The driving sprock t' 9 's driven by the pinion #20 fixed upon thedriving shaft #6 and mshed w-ithfthe spur gear #21, in-

i 'dicated in dotted circumference, and fixed 4upon. the sprocket shaft#22. The driving pinion is actuated through a'train of reducing gears bythe motor #23.

By interposing the rings #14e a multiplicity of small rollers and theirtroublesome journals are eliminated. The large di' ameter ofthe rlngsand sprockets, 1n conjunction With the long links of the traction beltgives a sufficient backing to maintain the belt on a substantially eventraction'plane.

A single rin' j may be used on light constructions; but or steadinessand 4equipoise a plurality of rings as shovvn is preferable. Y

.by Letters Patent is encircling It is the function of the teeterableframe to relievelthe strain on the `traction mechanism, in starting upor down grades, or in passing over obstructions. In towing plows,Scrapers or the like,"the efficiency of Which might depend uponmaintaining) the tractor on an even plane, thetruck can e prevented fromteetering by locking the arm #24 in any suitable manner. to the'tractorV frame at 25. #For the sake of lucidity, only the barest.essential elements of the invention have been incorporated inthisapplication, and al1 details vrelating `to the application of theinvention to special purposes,the details of motive power and of powertransmission, control of the machine, fuel storage, lubrication,et'cetera, have been purposely omitted. It-.is obvious that the tractionmechanism hereindescribedmay be located upon both sides of the tractor;or that it may be upon o ne side only, in which case the ordinaryconcentric traction-Wheel can be used on the other side; or that thetraction mechamsm may be located in the `center of the tractor; or thatvarious minor chan es may be lmade without departing material y from thespirit of the invention, for which this application for patent is drawnparticularly with reference to the constructlon and arrangement of thetraction mechanisms.

' Having thus described this .'invention what is claimed and desired tobe secured rollers. mounted in the superstructure; an

endless traction belt adapted to travel .from the drlvlng sprocket overthe top of the annular r1ngs,thence around said idle s rocket andthenceunder the annular rings ack tothe driving sprocket, or vice versa;suitable meansffor preventing the teetering of the teeterable truck; andsuitable means for actuating the said driving sprocket.

A2. In a tractor, a traction mechanism con- `sisting Jof a tractortrarne;v a' teeterable truck pivoted 4on 'the tractor frame; a drivingsprocket and an idle sprocket liournaled l1n opposite ends of theteeterable truck;

supporting rollers on opposite sides of the teeterable truck journaledin brackets on` the tractor frame; an'endless traction belt theteeterabletruck and 4 ference Within theloop-of the traction beltporting rollers' and the' traction" belt, and

and

interposed betweenA the supporting rollers and' the traction belt, andso disposed that their diameter overlaps the diameter ofthe saidsprockets, and a suitable driving mech#V anism. ,v y 3'. In a tractor, atraction mechanlsln consisting of a tractor frame; a teeterable truckpivoted on the tractor lframe; a driving sprocketV and an idle sprocketjournaled in opposite l' ends of the teeterable truck; supportingl,rollers on opposite sides of the teeterableA truck journaled on thetractor frame; an. endless traction belt encircling the teeterable truckand the said sprockets; annular rings vinterposed between'the supsodisposed that-their diameter overlaps the diameter ofthe said sprockets;anda suitable driving' mechanism. ff

4. A traction mechanismv comprising tractor frame,`a truckmounted onsaid frame, sprockets journaled iii-opposite ends of said truck,supporting rollers journaled in said frame, annular rings guided by saidrollers disposed j on opposite sides of said sprockets, an endlesstraction belt engaging said'sp'rockets and said rings, and means for`driving'one of said sprockets.

,5, In a tractor, a traction mechanism con,

Witnesses: 4

sisting of a tractorl frame; an endlesstracf tion belt with anglesections adjacent to the lateral edges thereof; supporting rollersmounted on the tractor pframe; annular rings" interposed between saidrollers and A the-angle sections .on the traction ebelt, and

aisuitable driving mechanism.

, 6. A traction mechanism comprising. a

tractor frame, va teeterable truck mounted ltherein, idlersmounted insaid truck, an-

nular` rings rotatably mounted in said frame, a traction belt encirclingsaid idlers and rings, and means for driving said belt.'

7. In a tractor, a traction mechanism consisting ofda tractor Aframe, anendless traction belt, av driving sprocket therefor, an?

nular rings disposed' on opposite sides of said sprocket, leach'supportingone edge of one stretch of said belt', supporting rollers forsaid rings,

displacement with relation to said rings.

In testimony whereof, vI have hereunto set my hand this 16th day ofJanuary 1909.

PLINY E. HoLT.

e vand means for driving said sprocket, the edges of said belt beingprovided vWith means for preventing lateral,

